I realized anew this week how much I need to read scripture, not for legalistic reasons or because it will make God happy with me or make me a better person, but because when I neglect it, I am easily deceived into believing lies about God, myself, and others. So, I decided to start at the beginning. I got a little bit stuck on Genesis 4, the story of Cain and Abel.
"So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions, and the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.' " Genesis 4:3-7
I don't fully understand this, but something I'm seeing is that Cain either didn't know or didn't care what the Lord wanted. God required a blood sacrifice for sin. Abel knew this. It seems to me that if Cain did not know why his offering was not accepted, he could have just asked. And if he did know, he clearly didn't care. He seems to have no regard for what God is after, what He wants.
I am asking the Lord to show me what He wants so I don't keep on making offerings that are of no account to God. I want to be after what He's after. I want to give Him what He wants, not just give what I want to give.
"So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions, and the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.' " Genesis 4:3-7
I don't fully understand this, but something I'm seeing is that Cain either didn't know or didn't care what the Lord wanted. God required a blood sacrifice for sin. Abel knew this. It seems to me that if Cain did not know why his offering was not accepted, he could have just asked. And if he did know, he clearly didn't care. He seems to have no regard for what God is after, what He wants.
I am asking the Lord to show me what He wants so I don't keep on making offerings that are of no account to God. I want to be after what He's after. I want to give Him what He wants, not just give what I want to give.
Amen.
ReplyDeleteWORD.
ReplyDelete